Working papers on Rev. John Trevor (1855-1930), founder of the Labour Church

Correspondence, 1925-1968, with the Trevor and other related families, other historians, and topographical files relating to Trevor's places of residence; miscellaneous files, including genealogies and notes taken by Brassington, 1960-1969; publications, 1892-1933; photographs, n.d.

Born in Liverpool in 1855, after the death of his parents John Trevor was raised by his maternal grandmother, a strict Johnsonian Baptist. This upbringing marked him for life, and possibly as a reaction against it, Trevor embraced Unitarianism, before founding the Labour Church. Its first service was held in Manchester in 1891, with Trevor attacking the lack of support given to the working classes by the traditional churches. Support for this movement grew rapidly through the industrial North, and in 1892 Trevor founded the monthly 'Labour Prophet'. Annual conferences followed in 1893. Due to ill-health, Trevor resigned from the editorship in 1896, but continued his involvement by becoming chairman of the Labour Church Union. At its height, the Union numbered 25 churches, nearly all in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The central idea behind the Labour Church movement was to add a spiritual dimension to the idea of the emancipation of labour, but Trevor's views on this subject brought him into conflict with other church members, and with the Independent Labour Party, which he believed failed to recognise this aspect. However, Trevor continued his formal association with the Labour Church into the next century, whilst also maintaining links with the Unitarian Church. However, his last decade was one of increasing loneliness and frustration with the established churches. He finally died in 1930, and was buried in Highgate cemetery.

Reference: Richard Storey in Joyce M. Bellamy and John Saville (eds.), 'Dictionary of Labour Biography, Vol. 6' (London, 1982).

These are working papers of Rev. G.W. Brassington, from Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria. Rev. Brassington was working on a life of Trevor during the 1960s and 1970s, up until his death c.1976. The papers comprise principally research notes and correspondence mainly concerning the Johnsonian Baptists, amongst whom Trevor was brought up, and the Trevor and related families. Original topographical files cover some of the places with which Trevor, the Labour Church, and the Johnsonians were particularly associated, especially Liverpool (Trevor's birthplace), Wisbech (where he was brought up), Norwich and London. The correspondence and topographical files contain letters from Trevor's relations and descendants, librarians, archivists and churchmen, with two manuscript letters by Trevor himself. The collections includes copious (and somewhat disorganised) notes by Brassington, often made on the backs of old letters, church circulars, bank statements, etc.

This collection is available to researchers by appointment at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick. See http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/using/

Link to full catalogue: http://mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk/records/TRV

The original collection was deposited with the Centre in December 1976 by Mrs. R. Brassington, via Cumbria Record Office.